Author: Naija Daily News

By Deborah Nnamdi Toyin Abraham’s latest comedy, Oversabi Aunty, has recorded an impressive opening at the Nigerian box office, emerging as the second-highest-grossing film of the weekend and posting Nollywood’s second-biggest opening of 2025 so far. According to Nigerian box office records, the film grossed N87.8 million during its opening weekend, with an additional N12.7 million generated from preview screenings. This brought its total opening earnings to N100.5 million, placing it behind only the top-performing Nollywood release of the year to date. Industry observers say the strong debut reflects sustained audience appetite for locally produced commercial comedies, particularly those headlined…

Vince Zampella, the renowned video game developer and co-creator of the globally successful Call of Duty franchise, has died following a car crash in California. He was 55. Electronic Arts (EA) confirmed Zampella’s death on Monday. According to local broadcaster NBC4, the veteran game developer died on Sunday while driving his Ferrari along a scenic mountain road north of Los Angeles. In a statement, the California Highway Patrol said the vehicle veered off the roadway for reasons yet unknown, struck a concrete barrier, and became fully engulfed in flames. The agency added that both the driver and a passenger who…

By Deborah Nnamdi Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has explained his decision not to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, warning that attempts to weaken the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could threaten Nigeria’s democratic system. Makinde spoke during a media chat in Ibadan on Tuesday, where he recounted a meeting he attended with President Tinubu, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other political figures. According to the governor, Wike offered during the meeting to “hold the PDP” for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections, an offer Makinde said was not requested by the President.…

Popular Nigerian actress and filmmaker Ini Edo has responded to concerns raised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over the title of her latest movie, A Very Dirty Christmas, making an emotional appeal to regulators not to remove the film from cinemas. The 43-year-old actress shared a video on her verified Instagram page in which she pleaded with authorities to first watch the film before taking any action. She said the production was funded with investors’ money and urged regulators not to judge it solely by its title, stressing that she would personally withdraw the movie if it was…

The United States Mission in Nigeria said on Monday it will partially suspend the issuance of several categories of visas to Nigerian nationals from Jan. 1, 2026, following the implementation of Presidential Proclamation 10998. Under the proclamation, signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Dec. 16, 2025, the State Department will restrict the issuance of B-1/B-2 visitor visas as well as F, M and J student and exchange visas. Certain immigrant visa categories will also be affected, the mission said in a statement on its website. The suspension applies only to foreign nationals who are outside the United States at…

By Deborah Nnamdi The United States will partially suspend the issuance of certain categories of visas to Nigerian nationals beginning January 1, 2026, following Presidential Proclamation 10998 on border and national security. The US Mission in Nigeria announced on Monday that the restrictions will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time under the proclamation titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.” Nigeria is among 19 countries affected by the measure. Others include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania,…

….Makes N512m in opening week Nigerian actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele’s new movie Behind The Scenes has become the highest-grossing Nollywood title of 2025, generating more than 500 million naira in its first week in cinemas, according to distributor FilmOne Entertainment. The company said the film earned N512mn after breaking five opening-weekend records, including the fastest Nollywood release to cross the 500-million-naira mark this year. The film opened nationwide on Dec. 12 after advanced screenings on Dec. 10 and 11. Behind The Scenes, featuring Scarlet Gomez, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre and Uche Montana, extends Akindele’s dominance at the…

Photo: Former Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki By Didimoko A. Didimoko Lawmakers in Edo State have authorised Governor Monday Okpebholo to work with anti-corruption agencies to recover ₦17.5 billion in bond proceeds still held by two escrow agents appointed under former Governor Godwin Obaseki. The funds represent the balance of a ₦25 billion capital-market loan raised by the previous administration for the renovation of the Radisson Blu Hotel project. According to a report submitted to the state Assembly, the escrow agreement governing the hotel’s transfer to the Hospitality Investment Management Company was never properly executed, rendering it invalid. Legislators said the…

Nigeria’s federal government said it will move ahead with implementing new tax laws from Jan. 1, 2026, despite mounting calls for a suspension following allegations that the versions passed by parliament differ from the copies later published in the official gazette. The dispute intensified last week after Abdussamad Dasuki, a lawmaker from Sokoto, told the House of Representatives that key provisions in the harmonised tax bills passed by the National Assembly did not match those released to the public. The House set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the discrepancies and is expected to present its findings this week.…

The Federal Government has said its recent diplomatic disagreement with the United States, during which US President Donald Trump reportedly threatened military intervention over alleged mass killings of Christians in Nigeria, has been largely resolved. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Monday at a year-end news conference in Abuja. “The recent diplomatic spat with the United States has been largely resolved through a firm, respectful engagement culminating in a strengthened partnership between America and Nigeria,” Idris said. According to the minister, Nigeria demonstrated maturity and principled leadership in navigating complex international diplomacy throughout 2025,…